Olivier Riviere Rioja Blanco La Bastid 2019

The grapes for the 2019 La Bastid are no longer from La Bastida; they’re from Cárdenas, and the blend now has 30% Garnacha Blanca to complement the 70% Viura. Also, one-third now ferments in concrete (the rest in foudre and 500- and 600-liter barrels). It’s clean, subtle and fruit driven with notes of white flowers, a very subtle touch of honey, dried apricots and lanolin, which adds complexity. The alcohol is moderate 13% (lower with the Garnacha), and the wine has great freshness (it doesn’t go through malolactic). It comes through as very subtle, easy and with a straight nose, but the palate has more complexity than it seems, with some tannic/chalky sensations, very balanced and fresh. This should age nicely in bottle. It was bottled after nine months with lees in the different fermentation containers. 93 Points – Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate